- Area:
- Scotland
- Programme:
- Community Spaces Scotland
- Release date:
- 28 2 2012
Three community projects in the south of Scotland are today (TUES 28 FEB) sharing over half a million pounds of Lottery funding as the Big Lottery Fund announces the first awards from its Community Spaces fund.
The funding will help communities in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders to get the most out of their local area by improving meeting spaces at the heart of their communities. These include a historic building in Greenlaw, a new community playpark near Galashiels and improvements to local playing fields in Creetown.
Announcing the awards, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: "I am delighted to be announcing the first awards from our Community Spaces programme. Each of these successful groups will develop a community space that is unique to their local area. In the Scottish Borders, for example, this funding will help to bring a historic building back to life for community gatherings in Greenlaw while children in Langlee can look forward to a new and improved community play park. For people in Creetown, Dumfries, it will mean improvements to the King George V Playing Fields, which will revitalise this community space for generations to come.”
Plans to return the Greenlaw War Memorial Hall in the Scottish Borders to its former glory have received a welcome cash boost of £250,000. The Greenlaw War Memorial Hall Committee will use the award to renovate and extend their historic building which was donated to veterans of the first world war in 1918. The new modern community hub will provide space for youth activities, a cafe, an area to display local arts and crafts and a flexible and an accessible community meeting space.
Kym Campbell-Whitton, Chairperson, The Greenlaw War Memorial Hall Committee, said: "This funding is a resultof five years hard work and determination of the committee to see the local residents’wish for a historic hall owned by the community tobe renovated and extended to provide a multifunctional hall, museum,meeting place, cafe/arts and crafts shopand recreationalcentre fit for the 21st century. This will allow the residents and seasonal visitorsto access services on a local level, reduce the village's carbon footprint, reduce social isolation, improve the well-being of the community and increase services and opportunities for the vibrant youths and children of our community. Many people from other organisations,including the residents have helped along our journey and without themand their support this project would not have happened so to them we say thank you also.
Also in the Scottish Borders the Waverly Tenants Organisation today receives a Community Spaces grant of £84,803 to develop a playpark in Langlee on the outskirts of Galasheils. The park, which will include new play equipment, will improve physical activity levels amongst children and will provide a focal point for families to meet.
Gerry Moss, Chairman, Waverley Tenants Organisation, said: “The new jubilee playpark in our area will greatly improve the lives of all our children and their families. It will also encourage healthy play and social interaction across the community.”
In Dumfries and Galloway the Creetown Initiative Ltd receives £168,56 to develop the Creetown King George V Playing Fields. This will include new play equipment suitable for all ages from toddlers through to teenagers, seating and park benches, as well as improving the car parking area.
Andrew Ward, Creetown Initiative’s senior project worker, said: “The people of Creetown are absolutely thrilled with this award which will allow us to develop the King George V Playing Fields. The staff of Creetown Initiative Ltd who have been working very hard on this project for over a year are delighted that all the hard work has come to fruition. The park will now have play equipment for all ages, the walks and wildlife areas will be developed, new seating and park benches will be provided and the car parking area improved.”
Paying tribute to Katherine Elliot who has led the project Andrew added: “Katherine has secured funds that will serve the people of Creetown for generations, young and old, it’s a great day for our little village and goes to prove that if you set your mind to something, you can achieve results.”
Further Information
For more details contact the Big Lottery Fund Press Scotland Office
0141 242 1458 or 07789 033457
BIG advice line: 0300 123 7110 Textphone: 0845 6021 659
Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Notes to Editors
- The Big Lottery Fund (BIG), the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 46% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
- BIG is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since June 2004. BIG was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
- Since the National Lottery began in 1994, 28p from every pound spent by the public has gone to good causes. As a result, over £26 billion has now been raised and more than 330,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.
- The Scotland Committee, led by Chair Maureen McGinn, has been making Big Lottery Fund decisions on Scottish projects since March 2007. As well as taking devolved decisions on Lottery spending, the Committee has and will continue to play a strategic role in the future direction of BIG in Scotland.
- The Big Lottery Fund is investing in Scotland’s communities through its Investing in Communities portfolio as well as the small grants schemes Awards for All and 2014 Communities.
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